Vicious cycle- inflammation and excess oestrogen

As someone working with a lot of women with oestrogen-dependent conditions, such as fibroids, endometriosis, cysts etc., I have always noticed the high incidence of gut inflammation in these patients. Often reducing inflammation in the gut, and systemically throughout the
body, can help to significantly reduce or get rid of many of the symptoms typical for these conditions. Absorption of nutrients will undoubtedly play a big part in this, but there are some other,
more direct mechanisms to do with inflammation that are becoming more apparent these days.

One of the mechanisms responsible for this improvement is that by reducing inflammation one can reduce oestrogen levels - here is the mechanism
explained ...

Inflammatory agents have an effect on aromatase conversion. Aromatase is an enzyme that promotes the conversion of testosterone into oestrogen, so once
activated more oestrogen is produced.

There is a link here to the arachadonic acids - the proinflammatory fats (Omega 6s). Prostaglandings (especially PGE2) synthesised from the arachadonic acid
pathway are strong stimulator of aromatase in tissue - (found for example with breastcancerous tissue) and interleukin 1B (together with PGE2 are the most potent stimulators of
aromatase activity in fibroids).

And here is where it becomes a viscious cycle - Oestrogen in return stimulates COX 2 (which leads to increase in PGE2)- so the higher the oestrogen levels the
higher the inflammation and the higher the inflammation the higher the oestrogen levels are going to be.

Ref: Sem Repr Med 2004:22(1):51, Makio Shozu et al. )

The type of oestrogen that we have also makes a difference- we also know that some enzymes that usually regulate the conversion from a stronger to a
lesser oestrogen are reduced in endometriosis lesions- thus leading to even more inflammation.

What can you do?

Reduce inflammation!

A few ways to reduce inflammation:

pay attention to oral health & any slow-healing injuries

use anti-inflammatory foods such as those high in omega 3s (fish oils, algae, grass fed meat)

Thanks Sue. I am not sure re the Zambroza drink, I have not used it. It does seem high in antioxidants but would want to look at the (natural) sugar content etc.. which can sometimes be
counterproductive. I tend to go for turmeric and other anti-inflammatory herbs high in flavonoids.